Axway To Acquire Vordel to Focus on APIs, Edge-of-Enterprise Solutions

Axway, an integration and document exchange firm, is entering the Enterprise API market with its acquisition of Vordel. Axway will leverage Vordel’s API, identity and governance portfolio to offer a suite solution that lets firms secure their “edge-of-enterprise” integration for mobile, cloud, B2B and API projects. IDN speaks with Axway and Vordel execs.

Axway, an integration and document exchange firm, is entering the Enterprise API market with its acquisition of Vordel. Axway will leverage Vordel’s API, identity and governance portfolio to offer a suite solution that lets firms secure their “edge-of-enterprise” integration for mobile, cloud, B2B and API projects. IDN speaks with Axway and Vordel execs.

Vordel's portfolio includes Vordel API Server, SOA governance and identity management solutions. The Vordel products and solutions will become core to the Axway suite, he added.

Chief executives from both firms described the impact of the deal on the two firms and on customers,

“Vordel is already used side by side with Axway for mobile and web API projects, so bringing the two companies together makes a lot of sense.”

Mark O’NeillCTO Vordel

“The breadth of the combined Axway-Vordel platform will now provide companies with a single consolidated approach to their application and data integration needs --- across on-premise and cloud environments,” Christophe Fabre - CEO of Axway

“This . . . will ensure continued development and support of the Vordel API Server while also benefiting from the momentum that Axway will provide. As we move forward together, new Axway products will be delivered which will incorporate the strengths of both the Axway and Vordel product suites and enable Axway to further enhance its position as a market leader,” said Vordel CEO, Vic Morris, in a statement.

“Vordel is already used side by side with Axway for mobile and web API projects, so bringing the two companies together makes a lot of sense because we can offer the same framework, align policies and provide one dashboard,” Morris added.

“At first cloud integration was about getting access to SaaS or cloud applications. But now, cloud integration is also about integration or process flows – or about sending sensitive information across the edge. Those kinds of applications require governance, management and visibility across multiple silos and outside the enterprise,” Vordel CTO Mark O’Neill told IDN.

“So, bringing together our integration and governance capabilities for the edge of the enterprise, we’ll be able to deliver a unified solution from whichever direction the customer wants to begin,” he added.

Beyond a unified console, Axway’s Debauche noted other benefits from bringing together the two companies. “Customers don’t want to deal with silos or multiple gateways, or they want a mobile strategy that works closely with their cloud or B2B integration tasks. So, rather than have to cobble together different vendor solutions, our firm will address these complexities,” Debauche told IDN.

Vordel’s O’Neill said this combined expertise will be especially valuable for the current wave of Enterprise API projects.

“These new API projects may combine multiple APIs and need to conform to business policies, not just IT governance or SLA needs,” O’Neill said. “So, under one roof, we’ll be able to deliver customers the support they need for security, business rules, business policies, events and other compliance specifications.”

The Axway/Vordel deal comes as analysts are noting a growing business value from the convergence of management and governance for SOA, cloud and APIs. “API management and SOA governance technologies add considerably to the functionality offered by basic cloud management noted a Gartner report released this summer entitled, “Devise a Systematic API Management and Governance Strategy for Long-Term CSB Success.” Financial terms of the Axway/Vordel deal have not been disclosed. The details of this transaction will be announced after the project has been finalized, which is expected shortly.